Development of a 2-km resolution ocean model covering the coastal seas around Japan for operational application

Ocean Dynamics - In order to expand the coastal ocean monitoring and forecasting system of the Japan Meteorological Agency from the Seto Inland Sea to the entire coastal seas of Japan, a 2-km...     

Experimental study on the bidirectional inelastic deformation capacity of U‐shaped steel dampers for seismic isolated buildings

Hysteretic dampers are used to dissipate earthquake‐induced energy in base‐isolated structures by acquiring inelastic deformations, rendering their hysteretic behavior of vital importance. The present paper focuses on investigating the behavior of U‐shaped steel dampers under bidirectional loading; this is significantly different from their corresponding uniaxial behavior. Two main sets of loading tests on full‐scale specimens are conducted in this regard: (i) quasi‐static tests with simple histories and (ii) dynamic tests with realistic loading histories. Based on the results obtained in the quasi‐static tests, an interaction curve that accounts for the reduction of the cyclic deformation capacity is proposed. However, the fidelity of this relation must be assessed under loading conditions similar to those of a seismically isolated structure subjected to an earthquake, which represents the goal of the second set of tests. The results of the dynamic tests validate the proposed interaction curve for estimating the deformation capacity of U‐shaped steel dampers under bidirectional loading. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Long-term variability of the Kuroshio path south of Japan

This study investigates the long-term variability of the Kuroshio path south of Japan. Sensitivity experiments using a data-assimilative model suggest that the duration of the large meander (LM) strongly depends on the Kuroshio transport; specifically, low transport leads to a long duration of the LM. Actually, we find a good correlation between the duration of the past LMs and the Sverdrup transport estimated by a wind-driven linear baroclinic vorticity model. Then we explore favorable conditions for the LM and find a close relationship between the Kuroshio Extension (KE) state and the LM. That is, a precondition for the LM that the Kuroshio path on the Izu Ridge is fixed at a deep channel located around 34°N is achieved during a stable KE state. In addition, westward propagating signals with negative anomalies in the Kuroshio region and high sea-surface height (SSH) state east of Taiwan are key for generation of a small meander southeast of Kyushu that triggers a subsequent LM. The signals related to the above conditions change the upstream Kuroshio transport and velocity, which are consistent with features indicated by the former observational studies. Using reanalysis data, we construct long-time series of indices for the three conditions, which explain well the past LMs. The indices suggest that long-term non-LM states around 1970 and in the 1990s were attributed to a low-SSH state east of Taiwan and an unstable KE state, respectively.     

Molecular-scale mechanisms of distribution and isotopic fractionation of molybdenum between seawater and ferromanganese oxides

The distribution of Mo between seawater and marine ferromanganese oxides has great impacts on concentration and isotopic composition of Mo in modern oxic seawater. To reveal the adsorption chemistry of Mo to ferromanganese oxides, we performed (i) detailed structural analyses of Mo surface complexes on δ-MnO₂, ferrihydrite, and hydrogenetic ferromanganese oxides by L₃- and K-edge XAFS, and (ii) adsorption experiments of Mo to δ-MnO₂ and ferrihydrite over a wide range of pHs, ionic strengths, and Mo concentrations. XAFS analyses revealed that Mo forms distorted octahedral (Oh) inner-sphere complexes on δ-MnO₂ whereas it forms a tetrahedral (Td) outer-sphere complex on ferrihydrite. In the hydrogenetic ferromanganese oxides, the dominant host phase of Mo was revealed to be δ-MnO₂. These structural information are consistent with the macroscopic behaviors of Mo in adsorption experiments, and Mo concentration in modern oxic seawater can be explained by the equilibrium adsorption reaction on δ-MnO₂. In addition, the large isotopic fractionation of Mo between seawater and ferromanganese oxides detected in previous studies can be explained by the structural difference between and adsorbed species on the δ-MnO₂ phase in ferromanganese oxides. In contrast, smaller fractionation of Mo isotopes on ferrihydrite is due to little change in the Mo local structures during its adsorption to ferrihydrite.The structures of Mo species adsorbed on crystalline Fe (oxyhydr)oxides, goethite, and hematite were also investigated at pH 8 and I = 0.70 M (NaNO₃). Our XAFS analyses revealed that Mo forms inner-sphere complexes on both minerals: Td edge-sharing (46%) and Oh double corner-sharing (54%) for goethite, and Td double corner-sharing (14%) and Oh edge-sharing (86%) for hematite. These structural information, combined with those for amorphous ferrihydrite and δ-MnO₂, show the excellent correlation with the magnitude of adsorptive isotopic fractionation of Mo reported in previous studies: the proportion of Oh species or their magnitude of distortion in Mo surface complexes become larger in the order of ferrihydrite < goethite < hematite < δ-MnO₂, a trend identical to the magnitude of isotopic fractionation.Based on the comparison with previous reports for Mo surface species on various oxides, the chemical factors that affect Mo surface complex structures were also discussed. The hydrolysis constant of cation in oxides, log K_OH (or the acidity of the oxide surfaces, PZC) is well correlated with the mode of attachment (inner- or outer-sphere) of Mo surface complexes. Furthermore, the symmetric change in Mo species from Td to Oh is suggested to be driven by the formation of inner-sphere complexes on specific sites of the oxide surfaces.     

Improving strategies with constraints regarding non-Gaussian statistics in a three-dimensional variational assimilation method

We assess validity of a Gaussian error assumption, the basic assumption in data assimilation theory, and propose two kinds of constraints regarding non-Gaussian statistics. In the mixed water region (MWR) off the east coast of Japan exhibiting complicated frontal structures, a probability density function (PDF) of subsurface temperature shows double peaks corresponding to the Kuroshio and Oyashio waters. The complicated frontal structures characterized by the temperature PDF sometimes cause large innovations, bringing about a non-Gaussianity of errors. It is also revealed that assimilated results with a standard three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) scheme have some issues in MWR, arising from the non-Gaussianity of errors. The Oyashio water sometimes becomes unrealistically cold. The double peaks seen in the observed temperature PDF are too smoothed. To improve the assimilated field in MWR, we introduce two kinds of constraints, J _c1 and J _c2, which model the observed temperature PDF. The constraint J _c1 prevents the unrealistically cold Oyashio water, and J _c2 intends to reproduce the double peaks. The assimilated fields are significantly improved by using these constraints. The constraint J _c1 effectively reduces the unrealistically cold Oyashio water. The double peaks in the observed temperature PDF are successfully reproduced by J _c2. In addition, not only subsurface temperature but also whole level temperature and salinity (T–S) fields are improved by adopting J _c1 and J _c2 to a multivariate 3DVAR scheme with vertical coupled T–S empirical orthogonal function modes.     

Study of Water Motion at the Dissolved Oxygen Minimum Layer and Local Oxygen Consumption Rate from the Lagrangian Viewpoint

By using the Euler-Lagrangian method, we examine water movements within the layer of minimum oxygen concentration and estimate local oxygen consumption rates for 15 regions of the global ocean. To do this, a number of labeled particles (which represent water parcels) are deployed at the center of a grid with 15 depth levels and tracked backward in time for 50 years in a three-dimensional velocity field. We assume that a particle picks up oxygen when it encounters the point of maximum oxygen concentration along the 50 years segment of its path. We introduce a contribution rate from waters distributed throughout the global ocean to the oxygen concentration of a local layer under consideration. Water parcels which are assumed to pick up oxygen within the oxygen minimum layer of an oceanic region under consideration make a very small contribution to the overall oxygen concentration of this layer. In addition, these parcels move out of the layer and water parcels from the upper layers take their place. The averaged Lagrangian local oxygen consumption rate is 0.033 ml/l/yr for the depth of the oxygen minimum layer, 0.20 ml/l/yr at 100 m depth (euphotic layer), 0.043 ml/l/yr for layers from 150 m to 800 m depth and 0.012 ml/l/yr for deep layers from 800 m to 3000 m. The present Lagrangian numerical experiment produces a maximum difference between observed and calculated concentrations of oxygen and, therefore, a maximum oxygen consumption rate. Although the present method has an ambiguity as to how oxygen is picked up, we nevertheless were able to identify regions in which the water parcels pick up oxygen of maximum concentration. We found that the South Equatorial Current (SEC) transports oxygen of higher concentration to the middle latitude regions of both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific across the equator.     

Size distribution of urban blocks in the Tokyo Metropolitan Region: estimation by urban block density and road width on the basis of normative plane tessellation

The size distribution of urban blocks is important for the characterisation of urban block patterns and is known to follow several parametric statistical distributions. However, it has not previously been analysed on the basis of a normative plane tessellation and in terms of urban block density and mean road width. In this article, we formulate the size distribution of Voronoi cells using the gamma distribution estimated by urban block density and mean road width. We found that (1) both log-normal and gamma distributions can be good candidates for the size distribution of urban blocks at the scale of a region that consists of regular urban blocks and that has a uniform road width; and (2) the size distribution of urban blocks depends on the balance between pattern and width improvement effects. Based on one study region in Tokyo, if the pattern improvement effect is more prominent than the width improvement effect, the mode of urban block sizes tends to be larger than if it is not. These findings are expected to provide scientific support for urban planning (e.g. land readjustment projects).     

Seasonal variations of dissolved organic matter and nutrients in sediment pore water in the inner part of Tokyo Bay

At four stations in Tokyo Bay, pore water profiles of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON), phosphorus (DOP), and inorganic nutrients were determined at 3-month intervals over 6 years. Concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrients were significantly higher in pore waters than in the overlying waters. Pore water DOC, DON, and DOP concentrations in the upper most sediment layer (0–1 cm) ranged from 246 to 888 μM, from 14.6 to 75.9 μM, and from 0.02 to 9.83 μM, respectively. Concentrations of DOM and nutrients in pore waters occasionally showed clear seasonal trends and were highest in the summer and lowest in the winter. The seasonal trends in the pore water DOM concentrations were coupled with trends in the overlying water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. Benthic effluxes of DON and DOP were low compared with those of inorganic nutrients, accounting for only 1.0 and 1.5 % of the total benthic effluxes of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively; thus benthic DOM fluxes were quantitatively insignificant to the inorganic nutrient fluxes in Tokyo Bay. The DOM fluxes represented about 7, 3, and 10 % of the riverine discharge of DOC, DON, and DOP to Tokyo Bay, respectively.     

Importance of tropical cyclone heat potential for tropical cyclone intensity and intensification in the Western North Pacific

Which is more important for tropical cyclone (TC) intensity and intensification, sea surface temperature (SST) or tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP)? Investigations using best-track TC central pressures, TRMM/TMI three-day mean SST data, and an estimated TCHP based on oceanic reanalysis data from 1998 to 2004, show that the central pressure is more closely related to TCHP accumulated from TC formation to its mature stages than to the accumulated SST and its duration. From an oceanic environmental viewpoint, a rapid deepening of TC central pressure occurs when TCHP is relatively high on a basin scale, while composite distributions of TCHP, vertical wind shear, lower tropospheric relative humidity, and wind speed occurring in cases of rapid intensification are different for each TC season. In order to explore the influence of TCHP on TC intensity and intensification, analyses using both oceanic reanalysis data and the results of numerical simulations based on an ocean general circulation model are performed for the cases of Typhoons Chaba (2004) and Songda (2004), which took similar tracks. The decrease in TCHP due to the passage of Chaba led to the suppression of Songda’s intensity at the mature stage, while Songda maintained its intensity for a relatively long time because induced near-inertial currents due to the passage of Chaba reproduced anticyclonic warm eddies appearing on the leftside of Chaba’s track before Songda passed by. This type of intensity-sustenance process caused by the passage of a preceding TC is often found in El Niño years. These results suggest that TCHP, but not SST, plays an important role in TC intensity and its intensification.     

Measurement of the sea surface emissivity

The sea surface emissivity in the infrared region is determined on the basis of data analyses. Net radiation, surface irradiance and other oceanographical and meteorological variables are measured throughout most of the year at the oceanographical observatory tower in Tanabe Bay, Japan. We have found that 0.984±0.004 is a reliable emissivity value from the night time data. Surface emission radiates not from the subsurface water but from the sea surface. The thermal skin layer on the sea surface, however, is disturbed and disappears under high wind speed over 5 m/s through the analyses of the radiation observation using the emissivity value of 0.984. Under low wind speed, the sea surface can be cooler or warmer than the subsurface due to overlying thermal conditions and the skin layer can be neutral as the transient process between them. By using an emissivity value of 0.984, the temperature difference between the sea surface temperature and the temperature determined from surface irradiance that has been reported in the satellite data analyses is found to be reduced by half.